ABSTRACT
The chapter presents the social and institutional context of the process of development in Gujarat and Orissa. Its objective is to provide the background for the link between the central issue of the ‘room for manoeuvre in the middle’ and the field data on attitudes and behaviour of the gaon ka netas. This is done by first identifying the significant levels of developmental decision-making in India, particularly the regional government and the district administration. Next, the developmental organisations available within each district chosen for detailed study in Gujarat and Orissa are discussed in detail. The political process and the history of collective protest movements in each region is introduced in an effort to link the specific situations obtaining in Surat and Dhenkanal districts with the general framework of the book.1
